Police in Samoa have seized marijuana plants with an estimated street value of between $50,000 Tala to $100,000 Tala from a plantation at Faleatiu.
Five people including a young mother were arrested as a result of a crackdown by police last week.
The raid was conducted on the same plantation where Police Commissioner, Fuiavailili Egon Keil recently confiscated more than 600 fully grown marijuana plants in what is reported to be Samoa’s biggest drug bust.
The five suspects have been charged with possession of narcotics and will appear in court at a later date.
"The raid was carried out by about 60 officers of the Police Department, including members of the Tactical Operation Squad, General Policing, LEAD, and as well as other significant parts of the Ministry," said police spokesperson, Inspector Maotaoalii Kaioneta.
"The age range from the group arrested are from 20 to 40 years old. This was the same farm and land that we uncovered the last bust of 600 and more marijuana plants," he added.
The plants seized in the latest raid are newly grown plants.
"The idea of making money off of something that is illegal is dirty money, and dirty money is a violation of the law, thus police will arrest anyone who perpetrate these acts," Maotaoalii said.
"It saddens police to see that there are women involved in these behaviors, because in our tradition and culture, women are the good advisors to their husbands and fathers. But it seems that some are in the forefront of these illegal and dangerous operations," he said.
"The goal is to ensure a safe Samoa, because most of the deaths, and assault reports that come into police involve illegal drugs and especially marijuana," said Maotaoalii.